SANFL Blow-ins 1960-1990 Part 3: Glenelg

The third part of this series finds us at Brighton Road, the home of the Tigers, Glenelg Football Club.

The Blow-Ins

The Bays had their fair share of interstate inflow, with the familiar assortment of champs and otherwise, during the period in question.

Doug Long came to the Bays in 1962 as a 21-year-old Captain/Coach, after five seasons at the Cattery, which may have reminded him of his South Gambier origins. His appointment as coach was sudden, after the first choice Geof Motley, fell through. Long didn’t last, err, long as coach (two seasons), but remained at Brighton Road as a player until 1969, continuing as runner for Neil Kerley after that. He was a rugged and versatile ruckman/defender, regarded highly enough to wear the SA tricolours in seven appearances. He is a member of the Glenelg FC Hall of Fame. (Was he technically a “blow-in”?)

Two years later, the Tigers imported a pair of seasoned VFL rovers, South Melbourne’s Brian McGowan and Colin Rice from Geelong. Rice (nicknamed ‘Sago’) had played in the Cats’ 1963 flag, but appeared to have had a falling out with Bobby Davis in the off season, leaving them when in sight of his 100 game milestone. McGowan was a very good partner to Bob Skilton in his eight seasons with the Swans.

Rice was the 1964 B&F at Glenelg but 1965 was his final season there, finishing with 64 goals from his 36 games in black and gold. He also played six SA state games.

McGowan was Rice’s 1964 runner-up as well as the club’s top goal-kicker, then followed up with the top club prize in 1965. Appointed captain in 1966, which was his final season, his record stood at 58 games and 115 goals. Brian McGowan Motors became a well-known name in the prestige vehicle game in Adelaide and McGowan continued his Tiger involvement as Glenelg’s reserves coach.

Neil Sutherland also arrived in 1964, after three low key seasons at Geelong. From 1964-66 he contributed 34 goals in his 50 games.

Glenelg’s next blow-in was the blow-in to beat all blow-ins. In 1969, the first semi-final between West Torrens (coached by blow-in John Birt) and West Adelaide (coached by blow-in Murray Weideman) was drawn, requiring a replay the following week and putting back the finals schedule by a week. When Glenelg toppled Westies in the preliminary final (held on VFL Grand Final day), the fast thinking Bays officials took advantage of a National Service loophole and registered Richmond’s Royce Hart as one of their own for the Grand Final, a week on from playing in the VFL Tigers’ flag. Hart was reportedly paid $2000 for this appearance, which was made possible because of the rules around his Adelaide based “Nasho” in 1969. Wearing number 11, Hart was subjected to some uncharacteristic Sturt “attention”, but after he came to, his pair of goals in a losing side was all Hart had to show for his single game for the SA Tigers.

The National Service rules were indirectly responsible for the next blow-in, Steven ‘Ace’ Hywood. From South Broken Hill (where he played in their ‘67,’68,’69 and ‘70 flags), Hywood was snaffled by Richmond in 1972 whilst on training in Victoria, playing a dozen games that season, including the Grand Final loss. Clearance issues saw him end up at the Bay in 1973, but it may have been an unexpected move as he was not recorded as one of Glenelg’s newcomers in the Round 1 Budget. Known for his straight-ahead approach (and vice-like grip in a pack), he played a key role in the famed 1973 Grand Final victory over the Roosters, in the pre-AFL era’s final Adelaide Oval SANFL Grand Final. He continued with the club as a player until 1979 (with a brief interlude at Sandy Bay in 1975), appearing in the losing 1977 GF, accumulating 76 games (2 goals). He remained with the Tigers as a successful reserves coach and true to type, remains in the motor trade at Darlington (of course).

From Wagga Wagga via 2 games at the Melbourne Demons, Colin Anderson started at Glenelg in 1973 as a ruckman/CHF. He missed out on playing in the ’73 flag, He played in the 1975 Grand Final loss, where the Budget described him thus “Strong high marking and a good turn of pace (he is a professional runner) are features of his game… Occupation: Finance Clerk”. Often injured, Anderson managed 88 games and 98 goals until finishing in 1981. He won the Bendigo 2000 in 1975.

Perth’s Greg Bennett flashed into the Bays orbit in 1973, his 63 game/81 goal stint yielding a flag in his first year (followed by two GF losses). A skilful rover with an immaculate moustache, he impressed enough to be picked twice for his new state in his brief stay, before returning west for two seasons with Claremont.

The words “Luther Seminarian” invariably preceded the name of Glenelg’s Rob Paech when mentioned in the pages of The Advertiser or The News. Paech joined the SANFL’s top flight from the Adelaide Lutheran club in the United Church comp (he was B&F in 1974), having earlier lived in Queensland. The high point was probably his 5 majors in the losing 1977 Grand Final, but he seemed to have flitted between his old club and Glenelg as he won two more ALFC B&Fs during his 1976-81 60 game Tigers timeline. According to the 1981 SANFL Grand Final Budget, he “Once kicked 30 goals in a match in Queensland Country League”. Paech, in a tale familiar to the readers of this site, was destined to be a Lutheran pastor (with his grandfather, father, two uncles and a brother-in-law all pastors) and is currently Senior Pastor at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church near Brisbane.

Noel Avery barely left an impression during his solitary year in the black and gold, 1977, although he came over from WA with a pretty fair resume at Old Easts. But from the look of this election flyer from his tilt at Parliament in 2013, you’d think he was Austin Robertson, Polly Farmer and Derek Kickett rolled into one. He polled 421 votes (or 0.5% of the primary votes).

Syd and Big Nick reunited

The big news in 1977 though was the 13 games played by Syd Jackson, lured to Glenelg for one last tilt at the big time by Big Nick. Jackson had already taken up an Adelaide based Indigenous Affairs position and joined mid-way through the season. Starting on the bench in his last game, he overcame some “roughing up” by Port’s Greg Phillips, scoring a handy goal in the losing 1977 Grand Final.

Midway through 1980, Robert Dean, formerly of Collingwood (121 games) and South Melbourne (66 games) found his way to Glenelg for ten or so low key matches.

The Bays entered the brave new world of footy financing in 1981, leasing Fitzroy’s PE-teaching Peter Brown to provide some “pacy, direct kicking” on a wing. Brown played in the losing 1981 Grand Final and did not continue his weekly trips over the border thereafter. His sole season yielded 14 games and 16 goals.

Adam Garton was a West Canberra junior who relocated to Adelaide in the late 70s to study architecture. He spent a couple of years in the lower grades before gaining a spot in the Glenelg seniors in 1982. Garton was a key position fixture in the subsequent seasons, a major part of the Bays’ mid-80s resurgence. After the 1985/86 flags (four goals in the latter), he was drafted into the Brisbane Bears for their initial entry into the then-VFL. Three games and one goal in two years was his record there and he returned to Brighton Road in 1989, rounding off his SANFL record at 90 games, 72 goals and a pair of flags. Garton returned to Qld soon after, and runs a Fortitude Valley based architectural firm.

Peter ‘Maxy’ Maynard also joined in 1982, after a brief career at the Demons. He certainly found his feet in the local comp, playing a key role as the good old fashioned “utility”, racking up 196 games, 162 goals, spots in the 85/86 flags and marrying Graham Campbell’s daughter. His place in the side throughout was never in question until coach Cornes dropped him on the eve of the 1990 finals. This signalled his end at the Bays and he finished his career at Woodville-West Torrens. Maynard has two sons on AFL lists, rookie-listed Corey (Melbourne) and Brayden (Collingwood)

(Source: snoutslouts.org)

Mark Motlop already had the NTFL’s Nichols Medal under his belt when he joined Glenelg from Nightcliff in 1982 (he had a couple of prior seasons at Port, without breaking into the league side). Rewarded with league selection by Graham Campbell in 1983, Motlop played 43 games (26 goals) at a time when Glenelg was a SANFL powerhouse. Unlucky not to be selected in the 1985 Grand Final, Mark Motlop continued his legendary NTFL career, becoming the first person to attain 300 games and is now also in the AFLNT Hall of Fame.

When Greg Nichols arrived in 1984, he had just come off a season as captain-coach of Myrtleford and had a couple of seasons coaching Wagga’s Turvey Park before that and won the ACTFL Mulrooney Medal at Ainslie in 1982. Those stints followed his solitary Geelong appearance in 1979. Nicholls only stayed the one season in black and gold, putting through 62 big ones in his 17 outings. A journeyman’s journeyman, Nichols lobbed back at Turvey Park (playing in five of their flags in total) to cement his standing as the dominant CHF in the Riverina. Not content with that, Nichols took on numerous executive roles in the thoroughbred caper and remains a director of Racing Victoria.

Glenelg was slowly building its way to SANFL dominance by 1984 and the addition of Ross Gibbs from West Perth introduced extra poise in defence, not to mention the suavest mo’ since the ’73 premiership photo. Gibbs’ day job as an armed guard saw many a bank teller swooning during the week (although they may have had other ideas down at the Port). Famously adding 253 games/111 goals and spots in the 85/86 flags to his WA 97/66/2 state games tally, the immaculately turned out Gibbs was entrusted with the Bay kickouts for eleven seasons. His son Bryce remains at Carlton.

Michael Toy was another who joined in 1984. His previous club was Pennant Hills in Sydney where he won the 1983 Phelan Medal. Toy’s 3 games for the Tigers was it for his time SANFL.

Rod Campbell commenced in 1984. The coach’s son, he’d previously played with Port Melbourne. He followed up his 10 game debut season with a single appearance under new coach Graham Cornes in 1985 before trying his luck at the Panthers. He is now a prominent Adelaide fireperson.

Wayne ‘Moose’ Henwood brought his imposing physical presence to Glenelg in 1985 from South Fremantle, playing up front, down back, in the guts and generally making life difficult for anyone who got in his way. Playing in both Tigers premierships in 85/86, he was a prized recruit for the Swans in 1987, staying for five colourful seasons. He played a single name for the Dees in 1992. Having learnt a lot about the law from his numerous tribunal visits, Henwood was admitted to the Bar in 2005, and has a seat on both the AFL Tribunal and the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal.

At 205cm, Steve ‘Froggy’ Thomson had a decorated career at Mayne and St Mary’s, winning the NTFL Nichols Medal in 1984/85, before his 17 games in black and gold in 1985.

Ainslie’s Tony Fisher arrived in 1986, playing four games. Surely someone must know more about him than that.

When Max Kruse lobbed in 1986, he’d already moved from his home town of Leeton in NSW to South Melbourne, then relocated to Sydney while putting together 88 games. He continued his dual CHF/CHB roles at Glenelg. He played in a Bay flag in his first year, followed by two runners-up, compiling a tidy 73 game/25 goal record.

Another 1986 interstate newcomer was Phil Reid, who was a prominent member of East Sydney’s dominant side of that era. He compiled 14 games and 11 goals in his single SA season.

in 1987, David West, a recruit from Sydney’s St George, played a single game.

Geoff Winton was a Wentworth NSW lad, who played reserves at Collingwood. Seeking a regular game, he was a fixture at the Bay in the 1987 and 1988 seasons, as his 46 games/39 goal record would attest. He followed this up with another 80 or so games for the Panthers.

From North Albury via the North Melbourne reserves, Tony MacTavish was a Tiger from 1987 thru 1990, a gritty rover making 68 appearances for 29 goals. He returned to his home region, helming a flag for the Osborne Cats in the Hume League in 1995.

Warren Ralph’s brief (and little known) time at Brighton Road in 1988 came at the tail end of his hugely successful career at Claremont (550 games in 118 games) and his mixed success at Carlton (21 games and 72 goals) across 1984-86. His record of 30 goals from 14 games had him marked down as “journeyman” in the Blow-In Hall of Fame, although he probably had no reason to stay after a huge lotto win. Ralph finished with a handful of games back at Claremont in 1989.

Paul Temay had scratched together just over fifty games at the Saints before having a crack at the SANFL in 1988. Regarded as the archetypal “good ordinary VFL player”, Temay copped a bad facial injury at the Bays and finished up after twelve games.

When John Fidge departed from the Brisbane Bears early in the 1989 season, Glenelg was his chosen destination. By this stage, Fidge’s record in the VFL was 59 games/92 goals in six injury affected seasons. He was a goal kicking machine for the Tigers, 3 times top goalkicker with 124 goals in 1990, 91 in ’92 and 56 in ’93 (missing 1992 when he spent a fruitless season at Essendon).

Nuggety perpetual second rover, Shepparton’s Paul Hallahan played a sizeable 113 games from 1989-1996 at Brighton Road. He played in a flag with Ross Gibbs for Victor Harbor in 1997 and returned to Shepparton Bears to play in their 2000 title.

In 1989 David McDonnell came with high hopes from the Edenhope Bombers, lining up in the Tiger ones four times for two goals.

Another 89’er was Robert Miller, originally from Rochester in Victoria. Miller had played a couple of years in the Carlton Reserves (including their ’87 flag) and managed 8 games for Glenelg in his sole season.

Adrian Battiston won the Morrish Medal for Melbourne in 1981, making his debut for the Dees the following year. He played 96 games (75 goals) in six seasons, but couldn’t get a run when at the Swans (9 games, 3 goals 1988/89). Although his Glenelg stats seem modest during his 1990/91 appearances (23 games/13 goals), he later became the Club’s GM. Furthering his legal and business prowess, he later became a player manager and is currently the West Coast List Manager.

Craig Elias was drafted by Sydney with pick 49 in the 1986 national draft, but never cracked a senior game for the Swans. Hailing originally from ACT club Eastlake, his three seasons at the Bay (90-92) yielded 22 goals from his 36 games as a ruckman/utility.

Our final blow-in is Brad Sparks, who was listed in the 1991 Football Times Yearbook as hailing from Sale, Vic, playing one Tigers game at in 1990. This reference did him a grave disservice, failing to give any hint at the four games he played for Melbourne in 1987/88 (as well as misspelling his name as “Sparkes”). Since he also made the Victorian Country rep team in 1990, he might have been another one-week SANFL blow-in.

Finally, although I’m aiming to be both complete and correct with this series, please feel free to provide details of any omissions, corrections, queries or comments that you may have. I’d be especially pleased to hear of any stories you can share about these blow-ins at the Bay.

Saw my first SANFL game in 1967 - Dogs v Peckers.
Have only ever seen the Dogs win 1 final in the flesh (1972 1st Semi)
Mediocre forward pocket for the AUFC Blacks (1982-89)
Life member - Ormond Netball Club
-That's me on the right

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Comments

Thanks so much for this. Always love to hear Bays footy history. Warren Ralph was a big catch for the Bays (notwithstanding that he’d under-performed in the VFL with Carlton), and word around town was that he never had the hunt after his $800K lottery win. Ross Gibbs was legendary for many feats, not the least of which was his drop-kick from full-back in the dying moments of the 1986 Grand Final. (Standing behind the goals during game-day warm-up at the Bay in 1984, Ross would always acknowledge our pleas for a drop-kick with a 45-50 droppie!)

I’d forgotten that Cornesy dropped Peter Maynard for the 1990 Grand Final. Definitely a surprise, as Maynard was a proven finals player, and possessed of a rugged on-field style that should’ve suited a clash against Port. Adrian Battiston transferred to Adelaide University during my tenure there, and could be heard regaling impressionable law students with tales of VFL stoushes.

And good to see Steve Hywood is still selling cars in Darlington. Hopefully he still drops into the Holdfast Hotel for a quiet ale or two.

Extraordinary piece of research Swish. You could have a career as a researcher for “Who Do You Think You Are”. Dunno how you find out about their current careers.
Thanks for the shout out about my West Torrens semi final draw in 69. That was as good as it got for us for 30 years. (Peter Stokes missing a set shot from the top of the square is burned in my memory). Did Bobbie Gibson play that day??
As for the Bays they were the easy beats of the SANFL in the 60’s until Kerl’s coaching and John H Ellers money whipped them into shape.
Doug Long was a poor man’s Kerls or Teddy – a 6’1″ tough as nails reliable ruck rover. He and Harry “the horse” Kernahan (with his elastic banded horn rimmed Clark Kent glasses) were their only decent players in the early 60’s.
Colin Rice was the best rover in the SANFL in the mid 60’s. Very quick and skilful. Dunno why he fell out at Geelong. Goggin and Rice were an ace roving pair. Very similar types of footballers. Brian McGowan was more a tough hard inside player. Priddis like.
From memory Royce Hart trained with Glenelg during the week and returned to play for Richmond in the VFL on the weekends. while he did his “nasho” at Woodside barracks in the Adelaide Hills. So he was to some degree “part of the Bays” for that season – more than just a one game blow-in. I was at the Adelaide Oval for that game and geed-up to see the legendary Royce Hart. Someone took him out in a marking contest in the first 10 minutes (whodunit?) and he was in la la land for the rest of the game as Sturt sauntered to another flag. I can remember feeling let down.
Thinking about military conscription/national service (Gough stopped the marble draws 6 months before I turned 18 – grateful) – why did Royce Hart and Doug Walters do their nasho at home with little disruption to their sporting careers? Long haired teen idol Normie Rowe was sent to Vietnam. I guess “the authorities” thought a bit of hard graft would sort out these long hairs. Any other example of double standards from the era between sport and “celebrities”? Please explain.

There’s a ton of research in there Swish, well done. The Bays certainly liked their New South Welshmen… and losing grand finals. Just a shame the Gibbs and Maynard boys didn’t qualify for father/son for the Crows (which, given the rule for former SANFL players requires them to have played 400 games, left footed on a half back flank between 1880 and 1881, is not surprising).

Great piece. There was another ‘blow-in’ in the Noel Avery era, a dashing wingman from W.A Stuart Hillier who unfortunately wrecked his knee.
To Noel Avery’s everlasting credit he roosted the long ball to Cornesy in the goal square at the Parade in ’77. What a game!

Great work Swish.
I’m wondering about the main changes are in the trajectories of amateur/professional footballers during the 70s, 80s, 90s.
What are the general narratives you are finding? How can this very detailed footy history, be linked to changes in Australian society more generally?
Is part of what you are finding is that there was greater diversity of movement in the pre-AFL era?

Great stuff,Swish and yes it would have been a obscene amount of research.Colin Anderson was bloody quick.Steve Hywood and Moose Henwood were bloody tough I dare say say selective smart recruiting as that was a area in which the bays needed to improve in.John Fidge was a v god full forward.
Bran Winton played in a South res flag with Chris Groom re Andrew McLeod trade.Ian White and Simon Tamke Ad Uni 96 flag played in that South res flag as well.I had heard also re Warren Ralph losing interest.

Think I remember Doug Long consistently kicking off from full back with a flat mongrel punt and landing it in the centre square at the smallish Bay Oval. S.Hywood finished the career of Rod Burton and these days would probably be suspended out of the game. And young Johnny Fidge goes into the Hall of Fame for the screw punt attempt at goal in a Grand Final – possibly 1990 – which he was talked into by Trevor Sorrell standing the mark!! As always with Glenelg history, littered with pleasant references to losing Grannies, especially to PAFC.

Great work Swish ..from an old Bay tragic up here in Darwin ..was too young to get into the “73 GF but listened to it on the old car radio with the old cheese at Brownhill Creek reserve …can never forget it when siren went …first GF win for 39 years and Dad (who was at the great game ) disappeared down Jetty Road for 2 days with the Tiger tragics with a hangover that lasted until 1985 !!!….lost count how many times we did the “walk of shame” down Sportmans Drive between 1974 and 1984 on that. “First week in October” …..keep up the fine work !

Another great read thanks Swish. Huge quantity (and quality) of research! Noel Avery! From Tigerland to the Katter(y). Not nearly enough Noels playing the game today. I love that in his 2013 election flier the photo shows Noel on a 1975 phone!

John Fidge was very handy too, and I enjoyed watching him play.

I vaguely recollect Warren Ralph inflicting some scoreboard damage in a State of Origin encounter too.

I remember watching the Bays train one night soon after Syd Jackson arrived. He couldn’t even run laps without carrying and bouncing the footy. Beautifully balanced and wonderful touch, his career was shot before he came to Brighton Rd. Another Big Nick blunder.

1986 – Tony Fisher. Born in 1962 (I think) A local Wangaratta, Victoria lad who played his junior football with Combined Churches in the Wangaratta JFL, before playing with Greta’s 1980 senior premiership team in the O&KFL. Tony then played with Wangaratta & Myrtleford in the O&MFL for several years, before moving to Ainslie FC. Tony is now back living in Wangaratta & runs the Milawa Bakery.

Thanks DAVIDP – missed those two altogether – I should’ve cross referenced this against the Picket List.

Mark O, thanks for that – Phil Reid is there, Keddie didn’t qualify for Glenelg as (according to my self imposed criteria) he had been at other SANFL clubs previously. Those other names fall outside my 1960-1990 timeframe, but I’ll be happy to know about any other omissions.

Great read swish. One name sticks out more than the others for me and that’s Doug Long. I believe he was u18 coach at Morphett Vale football club for a number of years (may have coached Rod Jameson are one stage).

Great stuff Swish. Brings back a lifetime of wonderful memories…if you don’t count some of the GFs. That Greg Kazuro was something special! I know the Stringer boys weren’t ‘blow ins’ but they were maybe the best recruits in GFC history. They , along with Scott Salisbury!added the toughness to the class we already had. – hence the 85 and 86 flags.

Some great recruits over the years particularly in the early 70’s with the pick ups of Hywood, Anderson and Bennett and again in the early 80’s with the pick ups of Maynard, Gibbs, Henwood and Kruse. No coincidence that it resulted in immediate premiership success for the club.
Always remember Noel Avery because he seemed to be in a world of his own. Not sure what he was taking prior to the game but he looked totally out of it ( I think wasted is the word ). Warren Ralph never really looked motivated even prior to the big lotto win. I believe the club paid him big money for the short time he was at the club so he did pretty well financially moving to South Australia.

Thanks P Cook. I wasn’t aware of this. Crompton played 25 games/23 goals in five seasons for Melbourne before his one season at Glenelg (1961), returning to the Dees from 62-66 for 74 more games (his only goal in those five seasons was his famous GF winner in 1964) (thanks to alftables.com)

Do you know if Glenelg used him in defence, as this is where he played in his return to Melbourne? I’ll see what else I can dig up on this. Thanks again.

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